(1)
The finances of the Social Security program are separated by law from the rest of the federal government.
(2)
The Social Security program levies its own taxes.
(3)
{FICA} Tax income is deposited on a daily basis and is invested in “special-issue” securities. The cash exchanged for the securities goes into the General Fund of the Treasury and is indistinguishable from other cash in the General Fund.
(4)
The government pays interest to the Trust Funds. The government owes the money which the {Social Security} Trust Funds have loaned to it and will have to repay it as the securities come due.
(5)
Special {Security} issues can be redeemed at any time at face value {from the General Fund}.
(6)
The GDP increase per dollar of budgetary cost is in the range of 1.6, 1.7 for things like food stamps and unemployment benefits, and in the range of .35 for extending the Bush tax cuts.
IOW:
Expect a $1.70 return for every Bottom Up $1.00 invested,
and ONLY a $0.35 return for every Top Down $1.00 invested.